Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Linda Buthelezi has made a bold statement about Kaizer Chiefs and SA junior international midfielder Samkelo Zwane.
Zwane hasn’t really enjoyed regular time at the club since being promoted to the senior team in 2022.
He has also featured twice under new coach Nasreddine Nabi, including in the 4-0 win against SuperSport United at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday. Buthelezi reckons Zwane has also shown signs of being a leader recently.
Buthelezi has tipped Chiefs player Samkelo Zwane for greatness, saying the 22-year-old has the potential to make it in the national team.
FORMER BAFANA BAFANA MIDFIELDER LINDA BUTHELEZI IMPRESSED WITH KAIZER CHIEFS’ RISING STAR
“I still say Zwane can shine and be a star at Kaizer Chiefs if he can be given a chance, just like Jayden Adams,” Buthelezi told FARPost.
“That boy can be a leader one day as long as he can be given time. What a brilliant passer, what a thinker, his strength and all that. He can compete with [Sphephelo] Sithole. He is a good replacement for Sithole.”
SAMKELO ZWANE’S CHARACTER HAILED BY ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S FOOTBALL LEGENDS
“As a midfielder, you need to have a character. I don’t care whether they like you or not, but you must have a character for the team. These are team players, and you must be a team player.”
Meanwhile, following Amakhosi’s win against SuperSport in the first round of the Carling Knockout Cup, coach Nabi also acknowledged that the holding midfielder’s tactical awareness has improved.
“It’s true that Samkelo Zwane has worked a lot in the past few months,” said Nabi. “We believe that he has changed because before, there were some tactical issues and concentration because he’s still young.”
Since making his debut in 2022, Zwane has made 26 appearances at Amakhosi. He enjoyed more of his game time under former coach Arthur Zwane who has since moved to AmaZulu.
RELATED STORY: Nabi gives his verdict on Samkelo Zwane’s progress at Chiefs
